Compare 2021 Mazda CX-5 vs 2021 Subaru Forester vs 2021 Toyota RAV4

2021 Mazda CX-5
#5 in Mid-Size SUVs
X
2021 Subaru Forester
#4 in Mid-Size SUVs
X
2021 Toyota RAV4
#5 in Hybrid SUVs
X
Get Your Price Get Your Price Get Your Price
Select style
Carbon Edition AWD
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
CX-5 Carbon Edition AWD 24 30 $29,384 $30,255
CX-5 Carbon Edition FWD 25 31 $28,024 $28,855
CX-5 Carbon Edition Turbo AWD 22 27 $31,135 $32,060
CX-5 Carbon Edition Turbo FWD 23 28 $29,775 $30,660
CX-5 Grand Touring AWD 24 30 $30,622 $31,860
CX-5 Grand Touring FWD 25 31 $29,277 $30,460
CX-5 Grand Touring Reserve AWD 22 27 $33,911 $35,285
CX-5 Signature AWD 22 27 $35,947 $37,405
CX-5 Sport AWD 24 30 $26,171 $26,670
CX-5 Sport FWD 25 31 $24,798 $25,270
CX-5 Touring AWD 24 30 $27,592 $28,410
CX-5 Touring FWD 25 31 $26,233 $27,010
Select style
CVT
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
Forester CVT 26 33 $23,375 $24,795
Forester Limited CVT 26 33 $29,337 $31,395
Forester Premium CVT 26 33 $26,120 $27,795
Forester Sport CVT 26 33 $27,591 $29,395
Forester Touring CVT 26 33 $32,541 $34,895
Select style
Adventure AWD
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
RAV4 Adventure AWD 25 33 $31,000 $33,155
RAV4 Hybrid LE AWD 41 38 $26,791 $28,500
RAV4 Hybrid Limited AWD 41 38 $34,808 $37,030
RAV4 Hybrid XLE AWD 41 38 $28,008 $29,795
RAV4 Hybrid XLE Premium AWD 41 38 $30,552 $32,500
RAV4 Hybrid XSE AWD 41 38 $32,385 $34,450
RAV4 LE AWD 27 34 $25,666 $27,450
RAV4 LE FWD 27 35 $24,357 $26,050
RAV4 Limited AWD 25 33 $33,642 $35,980
RAV4 Limited FWD 27 35 $32,333 $34,580
RAV4 TRD Off Road AWD 25 32 $33,456 $35,780
RAV4 XLE AWD 27 33 $26,876 $28,745
RAV4 XLE FWD 28 35 $25,567 $27,345
RAV4 XLE Premium AWD 27 33 $29,406 $31,450
RAV4 XLE Premium FWD 28 35 $28,097 $30,050
RAV4 Prime SE N/A N/A $35,815 $38,100
RAV4 Prime XSE N/A N/A $38,939 $41,425
Pricing
Invoice Price
$29,384
$23,375
$31,000
Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price
$30,255
$24,795
$33,155
Monthly Payment Estimate
$504 / month
$413 / month
$553 / month
The Car Connection's Take
TCC Rating
6.7
6.8
6.4
TCC’s Bottom Line
The 2021 Mazda CX-5 crossover has some priorities out of order; it doles out fine handling while it delivers a skimpy back seat. A recent Best Car To Buy winner, the 2021 Subaru Forester notches big wins in utility and safety as one of our most recommended crossover SUVs. The 2021 Toyota RAV4 is the meat-and-potatoes crossover for many buyers; the RAV4 Prime supplies the all-electric range.
TCC Likes
TCC Dislikes
Fuel Economy
City
24 mpg 26 mpg 25 mpg
Highway
30 mpg 33 mpg 33 mpg
Vehicle
EPA Classification
Small Sport Utility Vehicles 4WD Small Sport Utility Vehicles 4WD Small Sport Utility Vehicles 4WD
Interior Dimensions
Front Hip Room (in)
55.2 54.1 54.3
Second Leg Room (in)
39.6 39.4 37.8
Front Head Room (in)
39.3 41.2 39.5
Second Hip Room (in)
55.3 53.6 47.7
Passenger Volume (ft³)
103.6 111.9 98.9
Front Shoulder Room (in)
57.1 58.2 57.8
Second Head Room (in)
39 39.6 39.5
Second Shoulder Room (in)
54.8 57.2 56.4
Passenger Capacity
5 5 5
Front Leg Room (in)
41 43.3 41
Exterior Dimensions
Track Width, Rear (in)
62.8 61.8 63.3
Wheelbase (in)
106.2 105.1 105.9
Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)
72.5 71.5 73.4
Track Width, Front (in)
62.8 61.6 62.6
Liftover Height (in)
32.4 28.4 -
Min Ground Clearance (in)
7.5 8.7 8.6
Length, Overall (in)
179.1 182.1 181.5
Height, Overall (in)
65.3 67.5 68.6
Cargo Area Dimensions
Cargo Box (Area) Height (in)
32.4 34.8 -
Cargo Volume to Seat 1 (ft³)
59.6 76.1 69.8
Cargo Area Length @ Floor to Seat 2 (in)
38 35.7 -
Cargo Volume to Seat 3 (ft³)
30.9 31.1 37.6
Cargo Box Width @ Wheelhousings (in)
41.3 43.3 -
Cargo Volume to Seat 2 (ft³)
30.9 31.1 37.6
Cargo Area Width @ Beltline (in)
57 51.2 -
Cargo Area Length @ Floor to Seat 1 (in)
- 73.1 -
Brakes
Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)
NA NA NA
Disc - Front (Yes or )
Yes Yes Yes
Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
11.7 11.6 12
Drum - Rear (Yes or )
NA NA NA
Brake ABS System
4-Wheel 4-Wheel 4-Wheel
Disc - Rear (Yes or )
Yes Yes Yes
Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
11.9 11.2 11.1
Brake Type
4-Wheel Disc 4-Wheel Disc 4-Wheel Disc
Fuel Tank
Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)
15.3 16.6 14.5
Steering
Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)
36 35.4 37.4
Steering Type
Rack-Pinion Rack-Pinion Rack-Pinion
Tires
Rear Tire Size
P225/55VR19 P225/60HR17 P235/55HR19
Rear Tire Order Code
NA NA NA
Front Tire Size
P225/55VR19 P225/60HR17 P235/55HR19
Spare Tire Size
Compact Compact Compact
Front Tire Order Code
NA NA NA
Spare Tire Order Code
NA NA NA
Trailering
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
200 150 350
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
200 150 350
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
2000 1500 3500
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
2000 1500 3500
Maximum Trailering Capacity (lbs)
2000 1500 3500
Weight Information
Base Curb Weight (lbs)
3691 3449 3655
Wheels
Front Wheel Material
Aluminum Steel Aluminum
Spare Wheel Material
Steel Steel Steel
Front Wheel Size (in)
19 X 7 17 X 7 19 X 7.5
Spare Wheel Size (in)
Compact Compact Compact
Rear Wheel Material
Aluminum Steel Aluminum
Rear Wheel Size (in)
19 X 7 17 X 7 19 X 7.5
Electrical
Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)
100 - -
Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)
- - 550
Engine
Engine Type
Regular Unleaded I-4 Regular Unleaded H-4 Regular Unleaded I-4
Fuel System
Gasoline Direct Injection Gasoline Direct Injection Port/Direct Injection
SAE Net Torque @ RPM
186 @ 4000 176 @ 4400 184 @ 5000
Engine Order Code
NA NA NA
Displacement
2.5 L/152 2.5 L/152 2.5 L/152
SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM
187 @ 6000 182 @ 5800 203 @ 6600
Mileage
EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)
24 26 25
Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)
26 29 28
EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)
30 33 33
Transmission
Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)
1.00 - 1.46
Trans Description Cont.
Automatic w/OD CVT w/OD Automatic w/OD
Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)
0.60 - 1.00
First Gear Ratio (:1)
3.55 3.60 - 0.75 5.25
Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)
4.62 3.70 3.18
Third Gear Ratio (:1)
1.45 - 1.95
Trans Type
6 7 8
Drivetrain
All Wheel All Wheel All Wheel
Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)
0.71 - 1.22
Trans Description Cont. Again
NA NA NA
Reverse Ratio (:1)
3.89 3.69 4.01
Second Gear Ratio (:1)
2.02 - 3.03
Trans Order Code
NA NA NA
Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)
- 0.56 0.81
Eighth Gear Ratio (:1)
- - 0.67
Summary
Body Style
i-ACTIV AWD Sport Utility Sport Utility Sport Utility
Vehicle Name
Mazda CX-5 Subaru Forester Toyota RAV4
Suspension
Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)
Multi-Link Double Wishbone Multi-Link
Suspension Type - Front
Strut Strut Strut
Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)
Strut Strut Strut
Suspension Type - Rear
Multi-Link Double Wishbone Multi-Link
Emissions
Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year
6.8 6.1 6.3
Crash Test Ratings
Overall Rating
Overall Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Driver
Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Passenger
Overall Side Crash Rating
Side Barrier Rating
Side Barrier Rating Driver
Side Barrier Rating Passenger Rear Seat
Side Pole Rating Driver Front Seat
Combined Side Rating Front Seat
Combined Side Rating Rear Seat
Rollover Rating
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